Pullout Device for Cabinet Drawers, Especially for a Tall Cabinet

ABSTRACT

A pullout device for cabinet drawers has guide parts in the form of an upper and a lower pullout rail. A frame is movable arranged in an interior of a cabinet body so as to move on the guide parts. Shelf members are connected to the frame. The frame has a vertical longitudinal front support supporting a cabinet door and a vertical longitudinal rear support. The frame can be pulled out forwardly relative to the cabinet body in a direction of a central longitudinal plane that extends perpendicular to a front opening plane of the cabinet body from a storage position inside the cabinet body into an extended pullout position in front of the cabinet body. A support defines the extended pullout position such that the vertical longitudinal rear support is positioned at a spacing defining a spacer gap in front of the opening plane of the cabinet body.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention.

[0002] The invention relates to a pullout device for cabinet drawers, inparticular, a tall pantry pullout. The pullout device comprises a framearranged in the interior of a cabinet body and provided at its front endwith a vertical longitudinal support having a cabinet door (door panel)or the like attached thereto. The frame that supports shelf members canbe pulled out of the cabinet body in a direction of a centrallongitudinal plane that extends perpendicular to the front opening planeof the cabinet body from an inwardly positioned storage position into afully pulled-out position in front of the cabinet body such that theframe, in particular provided with an upper and a lower pullout rail asa guide member, respectively, is positioned with a rearwardly positionedvertical longitudinal support essentially in the same plane as theopening plane of the cabinet body.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art.

[0004] In generally known tall cabinets, referred to as pulloutpantries, a support member, guided in a central longitudinal plane ofthe cabinet body on pullout rails or the like, is embodied as asubstantially closed frame having vertical longitudinal supports betweenwhich shelf members are secured so that their accessibility from twosides in the fully pulled-out position is ensured. For removing articlesfrom the opposed area of the shelf members, the user is required to movearound the fully pulled-out cabinet drawer in order to remove articlesso that, in particular when the shelf members are fully loaded, aninterruption-free removal is ensured only with an increased timeexpenditure.

[0005] In a pullout device for cabinet drawers according to DE93000364.1 U1, the cabinet drawer can be pulled out of the cabinet bodyonly partially. For a forced pivoting of the cabinet drawer in thisconnection, an additional bottom side or top side guide module isrequired in order to ensure stability of the cabinet drawer. This guidemodule limits the possibilities of obtainable pivot positions, and apartial area of the cabinet drawer remaining within the body of thecabinet is accessible for the user only with difficulty.

[0006] A pullout device according to EP 0 821 899 A1 proposes alsocoupled pullout and pivot actions of the cabinet drawer. In thisconfiguration, the support member is also moved such that a portion ofthe shelf members remains within the cabinet body in a position that isdifficult to access.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a pulloutdevice for a tall cabinet drawer configuration that enables with minimaltechnical expenditure an improved use of pullout pantries, with whichhigh weight loads of the cabinet drawer can be received reliably, andwhich, in the area of the more easily accessible cabinet drawer,provides a reliable finger protection for the user.

[0008] In accordance with the present invention, this is achieved inthat the pullout device, particularly for tall cabinet drawers, isprovided with a support that defines for the cabinet drawer an extendedpullout position such that the completely pulled-out frame defines aspacer gap at its rear end relative to the opening plane of the cabinetbody.

[0009] The pullout device according to the invention is configured inthe area of the components supporting the frame as a functionallyexpanded module by which the cabinet drawer can be pulled out fartherthan the fully pulled-out position reached by the usually providedpullout travel for prior art pullout pantries into an extended pulloutposition in which the shelf members are more easily accessible and fromwhich position the cabinet drawer can be returned safely. This extendedpullout position is designed such that the entire cabinet drawer withthe shelf members is moved into a position in front of the opening planeof the cabinet body; in this position, a sufficient spacing is providedso that in this area a pivot movement of the components is possible and,by providing a spacer gap relative to the opening plane, therequirements in regard to a reliable and effective pinching protection(finger protection) is ensured.

[0010] With this pivotability of the cabinet drawer when completelypulled out of the cabinet body, a significant simplification for removalof the articles from the shelf members is achieved because, for example,by a 90 degree pivoting action in or counter to the clockwise direction,the shelf members are accessible from either side and walking around thepulled-out cabinet drawer is no longer required.

[0011] Instead of the two 90 degree pivot positions predetermined byappropriate locks, stops or the like and defined relative to a centralzero position that corresponds to the return and pullout plane, it isalso conceivable to design the support of the cabinet drawer such thatits frame enables a 360 degree rotation or that it can be movedcontinuously into infinite intermediate positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic illustration of a cabinet body,in particular, a tall cabinet showing the cabinet drawer in the pulloutposition.

[0013]FIG. 2 is a perspective illustration similar to FIG. 1 showing thecabinet drawer in a pivoted or rotated position.

[0014]FIG. 3 shows in a plan view onto the cabinet body according toFIG. 1 a first position of the cabinet drawer.

[0015]FIG. 4 shows in a plan view onto the cabinet body according toFIG. 1 a second pivot position of the cabinet drawer.

[0016]FIG. 5 shows in a plan view onto the cabinet body according toFIG. 1 a third pivot position of the cabinet drawer.

[0017]FIG. 6 shows an enlarged side view of the cabinet body of FIG. 1.

[0018]FIG. 7 is a detail view of the cabinet drawer in the area of itslower guide elements.

[0019]FIG. 8 is a detail view similar to FIG. 7 with the cabinet drawerin a locking position.

[0020]FIG. 9 shows in a view similar to FIG. 3 the upper guide elementsof the cabinet drawer in a first functional position.

[0021]FIG. 10 shows in a view similar to FIG. 3 the upper guide elementsof the cabinet drawer in a second functional position rotated relativeto the first position of FIG. 9.

[0022]FIG. 11 shows in a view similar to FIG. 3 the upper guide elementsof the cabinet drawer in a third functional position rotated fartherrelative to the second position of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The perspective illustration of FIG. 1 shows the cabinet bodyidentified by reference character 1 which is embodied as a tall pulloutpantry. In the interior of the cabinet body 1, a cabinet drawer 4supported in the area of a bottom member 2 and a top member 3 of thecabinet body is provided. This cabinet drawer 4 has a frame 5 whosevertical longitudinal front support 6 has a cabinet door or door panel 7attached thereto so that a front opening plane E (FIG. 3) of the cabinetbody 1 is closed when moving the cabinet drawer 4 into the storageposition (not illustrated) within the cabinet body 1. As illustrated inFIG. 1, the frame 5 supporting the shelf members 8 can be pulled out ina direction of a central longitudinal plane M that is perpendicular tothe forward opening plane E from an inner storage position into theillustrated extended pullout position. In known pullout pantries, theframe 5 is movable in particular by means of guide parts 9, 10 that arein the form of upper and lower pullout rails. In these prior artcabinets, a complete pullout position is reached in which the frame 5with its vertical longitudinal rear support 11 is positionedsubstantially in the same plane as the opening plane E of the cabinetbody 1.

[0024] In the embodiment of the pullout device according to theinvention for a cabinet drawer 4 provided within a tall cabinet 1, asupport is provided such that, when the frame 5 is completely pulledout, a spacer gap S (FIG. 3) is formed to the rear of the frame 5relative to the opening plane E so that in this way an extended pulloutposition of the cabinet drawer 4 in comparison to the pullout positionof the prior art is defined.

[0025] In this extended pullout position, the cabinet drawer 4 ispivotable (arrow B shown in FIG. 2) wherein in particular a pivoting ofthe frame 5 about a vertical axis H is provided. The frame 5 isconnected by bearings 12, 13, respectively, with the upper and lowerguide parts 9 and 10 that are preferably embodied as pullout rails. Inthis way, the vertical axis H is defined that coincides with the centrallongitudinal plane M′ of the frame 5 and the central longitudinal planeM of the cabinet. About this vertical axis H, the frame 5 is pivotableinto the article removal position in or counter to the clockwisedirection (arrows D, D′ in FIGS. 4, 5) and back into the storageposition.

[0026] By means of the extended pullout position, in the area of thespacer gap S a defined spacing is provided for the cabinet drawer 4;this spacing is dimensioned or sized such that, when manipulating thecabinet drawer 4, a reliable finger or pinching protection is provided.In the extended pullout position, the cabinet movement can be realizedwithout impairment of adjacently positioned pullout pantries or similarinstalled cabinets because the finger or pinching protection is ensuredalso relative to these cabinets.

[0027] In this configuration, the cabinet drawer 4 can be moved intodefined stepped 90 degree pivot positions (FIG. 4, FIG. 5). It is alsoconceivable that the cabinet drawer 4 can be moved continuously (i.e.,without defined pivot steps) into infinite positions. In a furtherembodiment, it can be provided that the cabinet drawer 4, after havingbeen moved into the extended pullout position, can be freely rotatedclockwise or counterclockwise. In accordance with the known embodimentsof movable cabinet drawers, the pullout movement (arrow Z) as well asthe pivot or rotational movement (D, D′) can be carried manually. It isalso conceivable that a separate drive (not illustrated) is provided.

[0028] When looking at FIGS. 2 through 5, the defined pivot positions ofthe cabinet drawer 4 can be seen. In the plan view according to FIG. 3,the pullout has been moved into the pullout/return position (Z, Z′) thatdefines a zero position; in FIG. 4, a pivot movement D′ counter to theclockwise direction into a first 90 degree position has been carriedout; and in the illustration according to FIG. 5, a 90 degree pivotposition after rotation D in the clockwise direction is illustrated(also shown in FIG. 2).

[0029] In FIG. 6, a detailed side view similar to FIG. 1 shows theconfiguration of the guide parts 9 and 10 by means of which the enlargedspacer gap S is realized. The guide parts 9, 10 in this embodiment areprovided with appropriate pullout rails 14, 15; however, other guide orsupport components are also conceivable in place of the rails 14, 15.

[0030] In the enlarged detail views according to FIGS. 7 and 8, theguide part 12 in the area of the lower support is illustrated in anexemplary fashion; the supporting action of the frame 5 in the area ofits axial bearing 16 is shown particularly well. In this embodiment, theaxial bearing 16 is connected to an additional support web 18 thatinteracts to the rear with a locking device 19 in the area of the guidepart 9. By means of this locking device 19, the cabinet drawer 4 afterreaching its extended pullout position (FIG. 6, FIG. 8) is blocked suchthat an undesirable return movement (arrow Z′) is reliably prevented.The illustrated locking device 19 acts mechanically; it is alsoconceivable to provide an actuator that has electric, hydraulic,pneumatic, and/or magnetic actuation (not illustrated).

[0031] The locking device 19 according to FIGS. 7 and 8 is embodied as arocker 20. It can be moved by means of a pressure pin 21 (arrow C, FIG.8) such that the movement blockage is realized in the area of the guidepart 9 by contacting at point P.

[0032] From the locking position of the cabinet drawer 4 illustratedschematically in FIG. 3 that is reached after the cabinet drawer 4 hasbeen moved out of the cabinet body 1, the locking device 19 can bereleased in the area of the lower guide part 9 in that at a spacing Arelative to the vertical axis H an adjusting force F that acts on theframe 5 essentially in the direction of the central longitudinal plane Mis generated, in particular by hand, and in this way a correspondingpivot movement D′ is caused. Upon reaching the predetermined 90 degreepivot position, the pin 21 is moved into an appropriate stop position(not illustrated), so that an undesirable return pivot action isprevented. When subsequently introducing a counterforce F′ on the frame5 (FIG. 4), the frame part 5 can be returned into the central lockingposition (FIG. 3) that corresponds to the pullout/return position, andfrom this position it can also be pivoted farther into the next 90degree position D (FIG. 5). In this way, the frame 5 has in principlethree predetermined locking positions.

[0033] In FIGS. 9 through 11, plan views show the configuration of theguide part 10 in the area of the top member 3. In this area, a secondlocking device 23 is provided with which upon reaching one of the 90degrees positions (FIG. 11) the movement (arrow Z′) of the frame 5 inthe return direction is blocked. In this way, in cooperation with thelower locking device 19 a safe securing action is achieved in that thedevices 19 and 23 act together.

[0034] Advantageously, the locking device 23 is controlled for the pivotmovement of the frame part 5 (FIG. 10) such that by means of appropriatetensioning and stop members in the area of the guide part 10 themovement play required for the movements Z, Z′ is compensated and, inthis way, the entire module 10 is provided with a reinforcement so thatlateral tilting or tipping of the pivoted frame 5 is safely preventedeven for high weight loads.

[0035] In FIG. 9 the movement of the guide part 10 into the extendedpullout position is illustrated, wherein a U-shaped profile member 24supporting the bearing 13 is secured by means of guide part 10 in thepulled-out position. In a bottom leg 25 of the U-shaped profile member24 a groove 26 is provided that is engaged by a locking bolt 21 of theguide part 10 and an eccentric module 27 at a constant spacing K. Theeccentric module 27 comprises a bolt part 28 that is connected to theframe 5 so as to extend in the direction of the vertical axis H andforms at the same time the pivot of the frame part 5.

[0036] In the position according to FIG. 9, the eccentric module 27 ismoved in the direction of the groove 26 to a guide opening 29 thatwidens the groove 26 so that, when the pivot movement D (FIG. 10)begins, a pivot force is introduced into the U-shaped profile member 24by means of the bolt part 28. In this connection, the U-shaped profilemember 24 can pivot (arrow W) in the area of the looking bolt 21oriented toward the guide part 10. At the same time, a minimal returnmovement (arrow R) of the U-shaped profile member 24 to the rear guidepart 10 takes place and the backside 30 of the U-shaped profile 24 ismoved as a result of its slanted position (angle W) against a rear stoppart 32, 32′ in such a way that a movement gap T is closed and theU-shaped profile member 24 reaches the tensioning position (T=O, FIG.11) on the guide part 10.

[0037] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the inventive principles, it will beunderstood that the invention may be embodied otherwise withoutdeparting from such principles.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pullout device for cabinet drawers, the pullout device comprising: guide parts in the form of an upper and a lower pullout rails; a frame movable arranged in an interior of a cabinet body so as to move on the guide parts; shelf members connected to the frame; the frame having a vertical longitudinal front support supporting a cabinet door and a vertical longitudinal rear support; wherein the frame is configured to be pulled out forwardly relative to the cabinet body in a direction of a central longitudinal plane that extends perpendicular to a front opening plane of the cabinet body from a storage position inside the cabinet body into an extended pullout position in front of the cabinet body; a support defining the extended pullout position such that the vertical longitudinal rear support of the frame is positioned at a spacing defining a spacer gap in front of the opening plane of the cabinet body.
 2. The pullout device according to claim 1, wherein the frame, when in the extended pullout position, is pivotable.
 3. The pullout device according to claim 1, wherein the spacer gap has a size providing a pinching protection or finger protection.
 4. The pullout device according to claim 1, further comprising bearings connecting the frame to the guide parts, wherein the bearings define a vertical axis coinciding with a central axis of the cabinet drawer, wherein the frame is pivotable in a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction into an article removal position and back from the removal position.
 5. The pullout device according to claim 1, wherein the frame is configured to pivot into defined stepped pivot positions.
 6. The pullout device according to claim 1, wherein the frame is pivotable into infinite pivot positions.
 7. The pullout device according to claim 1, wherein the cabinet drawer, when moved into the extended pullout position, is freely rotatable in a clockwise direction and in a counterclockwise direction.
 8. The pullout device according to claim 1, wherein the cabinet drawer is pivotable manually or by a drive.
 9. The pullout device according to claim 1, further comprising a first locking device for blocking at least a return movement of the frame after reaching the extended pullout position.
 10. The pullout device according to claim 10, further comprising a second locking device, wherein one of the first and second locking devices is arranged in the area of the upper pullout rail and the other one of the first and second locking devices is arranged in the area of the lower pullout device, wherein the first and second locking devices cooperate to block together a return movement and pivot movement of the frame.
 11. The pullout device according to claim 10, further comprising an actuator that operates by at least one of mechanic actuation, hydraulic actuation, pneumatic actuation, electric actuation, and magnetic actuation on at least one of the first and second locking devices.
 12. The pullout device according to claim 9, wherein the first locking device is arranged in the area of the lower guide part and releasable by a force that acts at a distance from a vertical pivot axis of the frame and essentially perpendicular to the central longitudinal plane of the frame, wherein the frame is configured to be locked in predetermined pivot positions and configured to be returned into a central locking position that corresponds to a pullout/return position of the frame relative to the cabinet body.
 13. The pullout device according to claim 12, further comprising a second locking device in the area of the upper guide part, wherein the second locking device is provided with tensioning and stop parts that compensate a movement play of the upper guide part and are movable into a reinforcement position relative to one another, wherein the tensioning and stop parts block a return movement of the frame when the frame reaches one of the pivot positions.
 14. The pullout device according to claim 13, wherein the first and second locking devices become active when moving the frame from the pullout/return position defining a zero position into a 90 degree pivot position, so that the frame has three of the predetermined pivot positions in which the frame is locked.
 15. The pullout device according to claim 1 configured for a tall cabinet. 